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New Member
posted Mar 18, 2025 8:38:37 AM

both married filing separately and legally separated, which selection to make?

I can select married filing separately and legally separated, which selection should I enter?

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2 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 18, 2025 8:50:04 AM

Enter whichever applies to you.  That way TurboTax can give you the best advice about which filing status is right for you.

 

Legally separated is a marital status, like single or married.  Married filing separately is a filing status used on your tax return based partially on your marital status and other factors.

 

 

Level 15
Mar 18, 2025 9:07:59 AM

it may not matter. Legally separated would only be better if you qualify for head of household - you lived apart from your spouse during the last 6 months of 2024 and paid more than 1/2 the cost of keeping up a home for yourself and dependent child who lived with you for more than 6 months during the year.

 

if you did not live apart from your spouse for the last 6 months of 2024, then your filing status is either married  filing jointly or married filing separately.